This feature story first appeared in the Springfield News-Leader on July 8, 2016

SPRINGFIELD, MO. — The face of Public Safety at Evangel University has changed for only the third time in school history. Recently-retired Springfield Police Lieutenant Todd Revell assumed the duties as director of the Public Safety Department on May 31.

Revell fills an opening left by Roger Moore, who has moved to the classroom to direct Evangel’s Criminal Justice Program. That position became available last year when Bob Cirtin was elected presiding commissioner for Greene County.

“We are pleased to welcome Todd and his 25 years of law enforcement experience with the Springfield Police Department,” said Dr. Sheri Phillips, vice president for student development at Evangel.

Dr. Sheri Phillips, vice president for student development

In addition to his broad background in law enforcement, Revell is a certified generalist and firearms instructor with the Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training Program (POST). He has 20+ certifications and has teaching experience in the Springfield Police Department Academy.

“I look forward to the continued professional development of the EU Pubic Safety Department,” said Revell, who recently spent a full week in Seattle, Wash., receiving training on The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

The Clery Act requires colleges to classify and report crimes on or near campuses in very specific ways, with guidelines that are monitored by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Providing a safe learning environment for the students and employees at EU is our department’s top priority, and that will be achieved through partnerships with all of the organizations on campus,” said Revell.

Evangel’s tradition of professionalism

Evangel has a professionally trained team of public safety officers and support staff on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Revell is just the third person to lead the department, and the University has continued its tradition of hiring experienced law enforcement personnel for the job.

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“Todd served the Springfield Police Department with distinction in numerous leadership and management capacities,” said Phillips. “We look forward to his service to our students, faculty and staff.”

The second director was Moore, who held the position for the past two years. He also came to Evangel from the Springfield Police Department, where he last served as the academy director and the training section commander responsible for operations at the Springfield Police & Fire Regional Training Center.

It was Gene Thomlinson who started as Evangel’s first full-time director of campus security, now public safety, in 1969. During his 44 years of service, he developed and refined a professional department that had 14 full-time and three part-time employees when he retired at the end of 2013.

Thomlinson also served 38 years with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and was captain of the department’s reserve unit.

He replaces Robert Cirtin, Greene County’s presiding commissioner, who taught and directed the program at Evangel for 24 years prior to being elected to public office in 2015.

Moore recently completed his master’s degree in Business & Organizational Security Management from Webster University. He also holds a master’s in Criminal Justice from Lincoln University, and a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Drury University.

Graduates of Evangel’s Criminal Justice Program have served as members of the Secret Service, FBI and Justice Department, as well as in police, juvenile justice, and probation and parole agencies from coast to coast.

Evangel University, which includes the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the church and society globally. Evangel serves more than 2,100 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 65 undergraduate majors and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.

About Evangel

Evangel is an accredited, liberal arts university with more than 70 academic programs on the cutting edge of today's professional fields. Our commitment to the integration of faith, learning and life attracts students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.